DMK urges TN Governor to order DVAC probe into alleged MLA resignation bid
Synopsis
The DMK has formally asked Tamil Nadu's Governor to direct the DVAC to register an FIR against Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and MDMK chief Vaiko, alleging the two conspired to pressure sitting MLAs — elected on the DMK's own symbol — to resign and contest by-elections under a new banner. The complaint is anchored in Vaiko's own alleged remarks at an MDMK General Council meeting, making this a rare instance where a ruling party's ally is cited as the primary witness against the Chief Minister.
Key Takeaways
DMK on 1 July urged Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra V.
Arlekar to order a DVAC investigation into alleged political inducement of two sitting MLAs.
The alleged conspiracy involves Chief Minister C.
Joseph Vijay and MDMK General Secretary Vaiko , with the meeting reportedly held at Vijay's Pattinapakkam residence .
The two MLAs — Kadayanallur MLA T.M.
Rajendran and Sirkazhi MLA S.
Senthil Selvan — were elected on the DMK's 'Rising Sun' symbol under a prior seat-sharing pact.
DMK Organising Secretary R.S.
Bharathi filed the complaint, citing Vaiko's own alleged statements at an MDMK General Council meeting as the primary evidence.
The DMK has demanded immediate registration of an FIR and a comprehensive investigation, invoking Supreme Court guidelines on cognisable offences.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Wednesday, 1 July formally urged Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar to direct the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to investigate what the party described as an alleged conspiracy by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) General Secretary Vaiko to pressure two sitting legislators into resigning from the state Assembly. The complaint, filed in Chennai, marks a sharp escalation in the political standoff between the ruling alliance and the DMK.
The Core Allegation
DMK Organising Secretary R.S. Bharathi submitted a detailed representation to both the Governor and the DVAC, alleging that Chief Minister Vijay and Vaiko had jointly conspired to persuade Kadayanallur MLA T.M. Rajendran and Sirkazhi MLA S. Senthil Selvan to vacate their Assembly seats and subsequently contest the resulting by-elections. The two legislators, though members of the MDMK, were elected on the DMK's 'Rising Sun' symbol under a seat-sharing arrangement that existed within the previous alliance.
The DMK argued that any effort to secure the resignation of legislators elected on its symbol amounted to political inducement aimed at altering the composition of the Tamil Nadu Assembly through unconstitutional means — conduct the party characterised as 'horse-trading'.
What Vaiko Allegedly Said
According to Bharathi, the complaint draws directly from remarks allegedly made by Vaiko at an MDMK General Council meeting. Vaiko reportedly disclosed that Chief Minister Vijay had, during a meeting at his Pattinapakkam residence, personally requested him to convince the two MLAs to step down. Vaiko further allegedly claimed that the Chief Minister had assured him he would campaign personally for the legislators if they resigned and contested the by-elections.
Bharathi contended that Vaiko's own public statements directly implicated the Chief Minister in the alleged conspiracy, making a criminal investigation warranted.
DMK's Constitutional Argument
The party contended that inducing elected representatives to resign interferes with their constitutional mandate — a mandate conferred by the electorate, not by party leadership. The DMK urged Governor Arlekar not to 'turn a blind eye' to what it characterised as corrupt practices undermining constitutional morality and democratic values.
Bharathi also invoked Supreme Court precedent, arguing that the DVAC was duty-bound to register a First Information Report (FIR) and conduct a comprehensive investigation into the cognisable offence alleged in the complaint.
Political Context
The development comes amid an already fractious relationship between the DMK and the current Tamil Nadu dispensation. Notably, the two MLAs at the centre of the dispute were elected on the DMK's symbol — making their potential resignation and re-election on a different ticket a matter of direct electoral consequence for the party. This is not the first time allegations of legislator poaching have surfaced in Tamil Nadu politics, but the involvement of a sitting Chief Minister's residence as the alleged venue adds a distinctive dimension to the complaint.
The Governor's office had not issued a public response at the time of filing. How Governor Arlekar responds — and whether the DVAC moves to register an FIR — will determine the next phase of this political and legal dispute.
Point of View
The party avoids the burden of independent evidence while putting the Governor in an uncomfortable position. If Arlekar acts, it signals friction with the Vijay government; if he does not, the DMK gets a ready-made narrative of institutional complicity. The deeper issue is structural — legislators elected on one party's symbol but belonging to an ally remain a constitutional grey zone that Tamil Nadu's coalition politics has repeatedly exploited. Until the law clearly governs cross-symbol defection scenarios, such disputes will recur.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DMK's complaint to the Tamil Nadu Governor about?
The DMK has alleged that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and MDMK General Secretary Vaiko conspired to pressure two sitting MLAs — elected on the DMK's 'Rising Sun' symbol — to resign from the Assembly and contest resulting by-elections under a different banner. The party has asked Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar to direct the DVAC to register an FIR and investigate the matter.
Who are the MLAs at the centre of the alleged conspiracy?
The two legislators are Kadayanallur MLA T.M. Rajendran and Sirkazhi MLA S. Senthil Selvan. Both are MDMK members but were elected on the DMK's 'Rising Sun' symbol under a seat-sharing arrangement within the previous alliance.
What evidence has the DMK cited in its complaint?
The DMK's complaint is primarily based on remarks allegedly made by Vaiko at an MDMK General Council meeting, in which he reportedly disclosed that Chief Minister Vijay had personally asked him — at his Pattinapakkam residence — to convince the two MLAs to resign, and had promised to campaign for them in the resulting by-elections.
Why does the DMK consider this 'horse-trading'?
The DMK argues that inducing elected representatives to resign their seats in exchange for political support — such as a Chief Minister's campaign backing — constitutes political inducement and 'horse-trading', which undermines the constitutional mandate of legislators chosen by voters.
What happens next in this case?
The matter now rests with Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar, who must decide whether to direct the DVAC to register an FIR. The DMK has also invoked Supreme Court guidelines on the mandatory registration of cognisable offences, adding legal pressure on the vigilance agency to act independently.
